Injector



May 24, 1927. l 1,629,712

S. L. KNEASS INJECTOR Filed Aug. 5. 1926* Mfrs/wol? M I la?.

Patented May 24, 1927.

unirse sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

STER-ICELAND L. KNEASS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM SELLERS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED., OF IHHLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA.

INJECTOR.

Application filed August 5, 1926. Serial No'. 127,306.

My invention relates to improvements in injectors and more particularly tothe pro.- vi'sion of a retarding valve' in associa-tion with a supplemental steam control valve in connection With an `exhaust injector.

Heretofore there have been provided injectors of a type utilizing in their operation, both exhaust and live steam and such injectors have :proved of substantial value and l especially so when used lon locomotives, in

connection With which they are of value because of an economical use `of steam and because of the fact that they are so ldesigned as to utilize heat from exhaust steam to pre- 5 heat the feed Water, thus returning some of the heat of the exhaust t-o the boiler. The details of construction of an injector of the type referred to are fully disclosed in the Uni-ted States patent granted to me May 9.6,

In connection ivith the use on a locomotive of an vinjector of the type utilizing` both exhaust and live steam, there has been here-tofore provided `control means for admitting a supply of live steam at low pressure to the injector. when the supply of exhaust steam is not available, due to the drifting or stopping of the locomotive, and such control means are designed to operate 'automat-ically, usually under the influence of the ypressure of steam supplied for loperation of the locomotive. The details of construction of control means for injectors of the type indicated are fully disclosed in United States Letters Patent issued to me November 24, 1925. No. 1,563,196.

.lu practice injectors of the type indicated, in association with controlling means for enailing a supply of live steam at reduced 40 pressure when necessary, have proved etticient and economical for use on loco-motives. However, the result may not be Wholly satisfactory owing to the frequent changesin the operating conditions of the locomotive when near the limit `of its tractive poiver.

vEven under more normal conditions of railroad service, changes affecting the operation of the injector occur when the locomotive is shut doivn to permit it to drift or to be brought `to a stop; under such conditions,

no exhaust steam is available and the necessity for a supply of live steam arises. Again, `if the locomotive be drifting or at a standstill, ivirth the injector in operation, .and the throttle be opened, exhaust steam again becomes :available and ,the desirability arises for its substitution for live steam as a source of supply for therinjector. Q Und-er the varied `conditions of locomotive operation.` if it be that the injector is required to .be continuously operated, certain ditticulties are met with due to the time element in the change of operating conditions. For example.y if the locomotive be standing, or drifting. both the high and low pressure stcan'i supplies necessary for operation of the injector are drawn directly from the boil-er. lVhen the throttle is opened to rstart the engine. steam from the steam chest at once acts to operate the means for controlling the supply of low pressure steam to the injector. As a result, the supply from the boiler may be shut ott before sutiicient exhaust steam be available to .supply the requirements of the injector. Thus, the operation tof the injector is interfered with, by the temporary cut off of the supply of lovv pressure steam, and hand manipulations is required for restarting. y

Under the varied yconditions of locomotive operation, it has also been found that the means for controlling the source of low pressure steam supply cannot be relied upon to operate With certainty of simultaneous action or at predetermined pressures and it has been appreciated that due tothe range of pressures Which `exist in the steam chest of a locomotive, during idling, part load and full load, there may be certain pressures under which the control means may not correctly function owing to a balancing of pressures, or too prompt or delayed action of the control valve mechanism relative to the main steam supply.

Nony it is an object of my invention to provide means, more particularly a retarding valve, for controlling the operation of the means for controlling the source of supply of lojv pressure steam to the injector in such a manner as to insure a supply of exhaust fill steam before the supply of low pressure steam from the boiler is shut off. Further, to control the low pressure steam supply means, and particularly the means tor controlling the supply trom the boiler, so as to insure its positive action with predeter-- niined pressures in order to effectively meet the conditions ot looon'iotive service. A still turther object ot my invention is to control the flow ot' actuating;l steam trom the steam chest to the control means so that the openingof the live steam admission valve may be instantaneous, and the closing shall be retarded until the required flow otl exhaust steam from the cylinders to the injector is obtained.

Having now indicated, in a general way, the nature and purpose of my invention, I will proceed to a detailed description thereot with reference to the accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated a preterred embodiment and in which:

Fig. l, is a view showing' a portion of a vlocomotive cylinder and steam chest, witli means for controlling the source ot low pressure steam supply to the injector' in association with means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a sectional view otl a retarding,r valve embodying` my invention.

Fig. 3, is a cross section on line ure 2.

Referring' more particularly to Figure l, a indicates a locomotive cylinder, associated with which is a steam chest Z). The cylinder supplied with steam, under the control ot the usual. valves, from the steam chest to which steam is admitted under the control ot a throttle valve. c indicates a conduit connected to the low pressure side of an injector.. not shown. but which may be ot the character shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,539,519, granted to me May 26, i925, and (Z indicates a conduit into which exhaust steam trom the cylinder flows. The conduits c and (Z are connected by a valve body e containingsupply valves controlled by the pressure ot steam in the steam chest, being' in connection therewith through a pipe The supply valves within body e control the admi sion to conduit c ot live steam from a pipe g, connected with the boiler, or o't exhaust steam from conduit (Z.

The structure ot' the valves in body f and of the means for controlling them under the influence o't' pressure in the steam chest is fully disclosed in S. Letters Patent No. 1,568,196, granted to me November 24. 1925.

In accordance with my present invention l provide a retarding valver` with a body ZL positioned between the steam chest and the means tor operating the supply falves in body e, which operatingI under the influence of pressure in the steam chest will control the eifective influence ot the steam chest pressure on the operation of the supply Sm?) Figvalves and insure their timely and positive operation.

The valve may be positioned on the steam chest as shown in Figure l, or it may loe positioned at any convenient or desired pointin pipe j', or in the supply pipe to the steam chest. The details of the construction of the valve ZL and its mode ot operation will be understood by reference to Figure Beter-ring now to Figure 2, /L represents a valve body provided with a flange 'i for at tacl'iing to the steum chest Z), or in the steam supply line from the boiler to the steam chest. The bod,v is provided with a steam inlet j, in communication with the steam chest, and an outlet 7:, connected to pipe The body is also provided with an outlet Z to atmosphere. .A partition or wall m, having a central aperture n, separat-es the inlet from the outlet Zu and forms a chamber within the casing, in communication with atmosphere through outlet Z.

A valve o, having` an upper guide j] and a lower guide formed by wings p, and lower and upper valve faces 7 and r, is positioned within the casing with the wings p within the aperture a .in wall m, so that the lower valve face q may seat on a seat s on wall/m, at the lower end of the stroke ot' the valve, the upper valve face r beingadapted to seat on a seat t screwed into the casing', at the upper end of the stroke ot the valve. ihe

upper guide 27 is entered in a recess in a cap.

u threaded into the top ot the casing. springo on the 'upper guide j? is con tined between the cap u and the valve, its tension being;` set to exert a predetermined pressure on the valve.

The wall fm, from its upper suritacc is provided with a cylindrical bore. concentric with the aperture n, inwhich tits an enlargement fw formed on the valve. above its lower face Q'. ln the periphery oi" the eulargement 0o is torn'icd a disch argc slot n?. ot required-area to obtain delaved action ot the means t'or controlling the admission valves when closing the live steam admission valve and opening exhaust steam regu'ating valve.

Steam trom the steam chest may' pass between the webs p to the under side ol' the valve o. It rst .exerts a pressure on the valve, when the Avalve down.4 and then ony enlargement w when the valve is tirst raised, compressing the springY o and closing; the outlet 7c to atmosphere by seatingrthe 'facer on seat Z.

lt will now be noted that the springy 1i acts to retain the valve o rin lower position with its lower tace if/ron seat a when there less than af predetermined yncssure.y or no pressure in the steam chest, as when the throttle is partly orwvholly closed. In the lower position oit the valve the chamber pipe j and slot a" are in communication with atmosphere through outlet Z.

(ill

be observed that since the size -ot It j oressure builds up in `the steam chest to the predetermined pressure, due tothe opening let the throttle, steam will pass through inlet j, and between webs p/ and exert a pressure on the valve o, which will be resisted by the pressure ot `spring e until such ytime as the steam chest pressure reaches a predetermined c'legree capable ot overcoming the pressure ot` spr-ing yv. lVhen the steam pressure acting on the valve 0 suliicient to overcome the action ot' spring Av, the valve will be lifted and the enlargement in will be subjected to the tull pressure ot' the steam. The steam pressure acting on the `valve 0 and on the enlargement ce will instantly overcome the increased force oit the spring and litt the valve to its upper position against the upper seat r, closing the outlet Z and permitting` flow ot' steam through the restricting passage m, which causes a gradual accumulation of pressure 1in chamber .e and pipe VVhen the pressure in pipe reaches the degree necessary 'for actuating the means for controlling the iill be actuated to sluit 'otl the live steam supply and open the exhaust. It will be noted th-at due -t-o the restricted opening ai there -w-ill be a substantial delay in the operation of the con-trol means a'liter the steam chest pressure reaches the deg-ree necessary to'actuate valve o.

It will be noted that when the valve o initiallyv lifts, under the pressure beneath it, any steam passing into chan'iber through 'the slota may escape `through outlet- Zf, so that such steam will have no eilt-ct on the injector supply control valves, buttliat, utter the init-ial litt ot' the valve, when the predetermined pressure acting on ,the enlargement w lifts rthe valve to its upper position vthe outlet l will be instantly shut ofi' and the steam admitted to chamber ,e and pipe 7', when lthe required pressure is built up therein, will pass to and function to uctuat-e the supply valves. The steam enters chamber only through slot m, however.

the slot as is limited, a predetermined timeY will elapso after the valve g is lit-ted betere the supply valves will be actuated to shift the injector supply from boiler to eXha ust. Thus it will Vbe observed that irrespective oli the 'tact that steam is admitted to the steam chest lby opening the throttle, steam will. be prevented, or delayed, byvalve @from passing into pipe and acting to voperate the injector supply control valves, to change the supply from boiler to exhaust, until a predetermined pressure is built up in the steam chest and until a requisite pressure is built u] in pipe f after the opening ot' thevalve 0.

lVlien the supply ot 4exhaust steam becomes insuliicient for the requirements of the injector, for example, due to closingr of the throttle, the pressure in the steam chest and admission valves. they Y and it will f available.

hence in the inlet will drop and the valve will be instantaneously forced down into lower position, 4by the spring e, and the chamber .e will belopened to the atmosphere and the pressure therein relieved through outlet Z, allowing the supply contre'l val-ves -to be instantaneously reversed to provide a supply of live steam to the injector 'from the boiler.

By virtue of my invention the shitting oit the supply valves trom `boiler supply to exhaust supply immediately on open-ing the throttle and before the cylinder has .a chance to exhaust, is avoided and the injector is in-v sured ot a supply trom .the boiler until a sutiicient supply from the exhaust is available.

Further, means is not su pressure, within wide limits,

the supply valves operating bjected to such steam chest .as may be available vat. any given time, but it is assured that it will not be subjected to less than a predetermined pressure. which -will be not les .than necessary to eli'ect operation voi: the valves simultaneously and positively.

Having now ully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is z-4 l.V Means for continuously suppl-ying steam at low pressure to an injector 4on :a locomotive having a workingcyl ider comprising in combination means 'tor con-trolling an exhaust steam supply` .means for controlling` a live steam supply, means `associated with said means adapted mider the influence et live steam pressure fte ,automatically actuate said means to admit exhaust steam to said injector when exhaust avail; able and to admit live strain when exha ust is not. available and means tor delaying the admission o'iV .exhausty steam zitter exhaust 'becomes available and 'tor permitting yinstantaneous admission of live steam when vexhaust is not available.

2. Means Afor continifiously supplying steam at low pressurc'to an injector .on a vlocomotive having a working cylinder, comprising, in combination. an exhaust steam supply valve, a live steam supply valve, mea-ns associated with said valves adapted, under the influence oit live steam pressure, to auton'iatically reverse them to permit a supplyotf exhaust steam to the injector when the locomotive is working and a supply yof live steam at reduced pressure when the locomotive is not working and means toi' rctarding the access ot' live steam to Vsaid last mentioned means when the locomotive is put to work until a supply ot exhaust steam is il. Means 'to-r continuously supplying steam at low pressure to an inject-or on a locomotive having a working cylinder, coinprising, in combination, .an exhaust steam supply valve, a live steam supply valve,

ieo

i' exhaust means associated with the said valves adapted, under the influence of live steam pressure, to automatically reverse them to permit a supply ot exhaust steam to the injector when the locomotive is working and a supply ot live steam at reduced pressure when the locomotive is not working, a restricted passage for steam to said last mentioned means and a valve adapted to prevent the entry ot steam to said passage at less than a predetermined pressure.

4t. Means t'or continuously supplying steam at low pressure to an injector on a locomotive having a working cylinder, comprising, in combination, an exhaust steam supply valve, a live steam supply valve, means asseciated with said valves adapted, under the influence ot` live steam pressure, to automatically operate them to permit a, suppl),Y ot exhaust steam to the injector when the locomotive is working and a supply ot live steam at reduced pressure when the locomotiif'e not working and a valve adapted under the influence ot spring` pressure to delay the access of live st-eam to said last mentioned means. n

5. Means ttor continuously supplying steam at low pressure to an .injector on a locomotive having a working cylimler, a vsteam chest associated therewith and a throttle controlling the admission ol steam to the steam chest, valves controlling the admission ol exhaust and live steam at low sure to said injector, means actuate said valves under the influence ot steam. pressure, a conduit affording a passage tor steam trom the steam chest to said means t'or actuating said valves, a restricted inlet to said conduit, a valve controlling` said inlet and a pressure means adapted to act on said. valve to position it against pressure in the steam chest to prevent the passage of steam into said conduit and adapted to yield to permit the valve to open under a predetermined pressure in the steam chest.

6. Means for continuously supplying steam at low pressure to an injector on a locomotive having a uf'orliing cylinder, a steam chest associated therewith and a throttle controlling the admission ot steam to the steam chest, valves controlling the admission ot and live steam at low pressure to said injector, means adapted to actuate said valves under the inliuence ot steam pressure, a conduit affording a passage for steam from the steam chest to said means for actuating said valves, a valve in said conduit, and a spring adapted to act on said valve to position it against pressure in the steam chest to prevent the passage oli' steam into laid conduit, and adapted to yield to permit the valve to open under a predetermined prressure in the steam chest. v

t. Means for continuously supplying steam at low pressure to an injector on a locomopresadapted to tive having' a working cylinder, a steam chest associated therewith and a throttle controlling the admission ot steam to the steam chest, valves controlling the admission ot' exhaust and live steamfat low pressure lto said injector, means adapted to actuate said valves under the influence of steam pressure, a conduit alfording a passage t'or steam from the steam chest te said means for actuating said valves and having an opening toatmosphere, a double laced valve in said conduit, a 'pressure means adapted to act on said valve to position it against pressure in the steam chest to prevent the passage ot' steam into said Vconduit and to open Isaid opening to atmosphere and adapted to yield to permit th valve to he positioned under a predetermined pressure in the steam chest topermit. the passage ot' steam into said conduit and to close said opening to atmosphere wherehy actuation ot' said exhaust steam admission valve will he delayed and actuation ot said live steam admission valve will he instantaneous.

8. Means tor controlling a supply ol. steam at low pressure to an injector operated wholly or partly withexhaust steam from an engine including means controlling the admission oli exhaust steam to an injector, means controlling the admission of live steam to the exhaust steam supply, means adapted to act to cause said aforementioned means to interact and means acting to delay the action ot' said last mentioned means in ettecting admission otl exhaust steam to the injector. f

l). Mea-ns for controlling the supply ot steam at low pressure to an injector operated wholly or partly with exhaust steam 'from an engine, including means controlling the admission ot' exhaust steam to the injector, means controlling the admission et live steam to the exhaust' steam supply, means adapted to act to cause said aforementioned means to interact when live steam is admitted to or shut oli' from the engine cylinder and means adapted to delay the action ot said last mentioned means when live steam is admitted to the engine cylinder.

l0. Means ttor supplying steam at low pressure to an injector operated wholly or partly with exhaust steam including a valve controlling the admission ot exhaust steam to the injector, a valve controlling the admission ot' live steam to the injector, means adapted to cause Isaid valves to interact automatically and means adapted to delay opening of said valve controlling the admission of exhaust steam and to permit substantiallyinstantaneous opening of said valve controlling the admission of live steam.

1l. Means for supplying steam at low pressure to an injector operated wholly or partly with exhaust steam including a valve controlling the admission of exhaust steam to the injector, a valve controlling the admission of live steam to the injector, means adapted under the influence of live steam pressure to cause said Valves yto interact, a conduit affording a passage for live steam -to said last mentioned means and means for restricting the entry of live Steam into said conduit. y

In testimony of which invention, I have 10 hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Penna., on this 29th day of July, 1926.

STRIG'KLAND L. KNEAss. 

